Game Day: Flames counting on Rittich against Bruins

David Rittich is drawing into the lineup Tuesday after Mike Smith appeared to have suffered a groin injury during the final seconds of Sunday’s 3-2 win over the New York Islanders.

The news that Flames goalie Mike Smith’s lower-body injury isn’t as bad as feared still means that the team is turning to backup David Rittich for at least the next two games, including tonight’s match-up with the sizzling-hot Boston Bruins at TD Garden (5 p.m., Sportsnet West, Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

Rittich was originally slated to start the game against the Bruins while Jon Gilles was recalled as a back-up following Smith’s injury.

“We had this game marked as Ritty’s game and he’s played well for us,” Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. “This is a good chance for him like he’s done in seven or eight games for us. But we know who we’re playing. This is the best team in the league over the last couple months, for sure.”

Rittich, 5-1-2, is making his eighth NHL start for Calgary which is 3-1 on this six-game road trip which wraps up in Nashville on Tuesday.

The Boston Bruins have the second-best record in the National Hockey League at 34-12-8 and are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. and 19-2-4 in their last 25 games. They had an 18-game point streak snapped (14-0-4) by the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

Meanwhile, netminder Tuukka Rask is 19-1-2 in his last 22 starts and is 4-0-3 with a 1.61 goals against average and .940 save percentage against the Flames.

Calgary is keeping their lineup the same as Sunday in Brooklyn which includes Ryan Lomberg who fought six-foot-five Islanders toughie Ross Johnston.

“We know what kind of team we’re facing,” Gulutzan said. “They have one regulation loss in I don’t know how many games. We think this is a top team in the National Hockey League. We talked about that (Monday) with our guys.”

NOTES:

RW Troy Brouwer skated with the team, for the second straight day, after breaking his cheek in three different places . . . Following Monday’s 5-2 loss to the upstart Northeastern Huskies, Brady Tkachuk, a forward with Boston University was watching practice along with his dad Keith Tkachuk, Flames general manager Brad Treliving, and Brian Burke.

THE BIG MATCHUP

Flames G David Rittich vs. Bruins LW Patrice Bergeron

The whispers are starting to circulate about Patrice Bergeron as an early candidate for the NHL’s Hart Memorial Trophy, the player who is deemed the most valuable to his team. The two-way centre has nine goals and 16 points in his last 12 games and has been able to score in all situations this season. As for netminder David Rittich, he is drawing into the lineup after Mike Smith appeared to have suffered a lower body (groin) injury during the final seconds of Sunday’s 3-2 win over the New York Islanders. Rittich was scheduled to start Tuesday’s game regardless, but this could be the start of a run of consecutive games for the 25-year-old upstart Czech goalie.

FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME

1. HEY JOHNNY, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR

After two goals and five assists in a four-game span last week, Flames LW Johnny Gaudreau was dubbed the second NHL star of the week. The 24-year-old Carneys Point, N.J., native had a goal and two assists in a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 6, a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 8, and had a single assist in each of the team’s games over the weekend — a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers on Friday and a 3-2 win against the New York Islanders on Sunday. Heading into Monday’s action, Gaudreau was sitting second in NHL scoring with 48 assists and 66 points through 56 outings this season.

Flames forward Troy Brouwer suffered a fractured cheekbone last Thursday in New Jersey.

2. BROUWER SKATES

Flames forward Troy Brouwer skated for the first time on Monday as the Flames took to the ice at Warrior Ice Arena, the practice facility of the Boston Bruins. The 32-year-old suffered a fractured cheekbone during Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. Although he finished the game (and returned in the first period, shortly after the incident happened), he was kept off the ice for a few days. Brouwer, who skated with a full cage on Monday, was put on injured reserve later in the afternoon (retroactive to Feb. 8) when the Flames recalled netminder Jon Gillies from the American Hockey League.

3. BEANPOT BUZZ

Like many hockey fans in Boston, Matthew Tkachuk was headed to TD Garden on Monday to watch the annual Beanpot Tournament, a local tradition that dates back to 1952 between Boston University, Boston College, Harvard and Northeastern University. He, of course, wanted to catch his brother Brady Tkachuk, a Boston University forward, in action. Also playing in the tourney? Flames prospect Adam Fox, a defenceman for Harvard who was selected in the third round (66th overall) of the 2016 NHL draft. Former Flames draft pick Brandon Hickey (third round, 64th overall) was playing for Boston University. His rights were traded to the Arizona Coyotes in the Mike Smith deal last summer.

4. THIS N’ THAT

After Sunday’s 3-2 win over the New York Islanders, Calgary’s 16-6-5 road record was second-best in the NHL heading into Monday’s action … Blueliners Michael Stone (399 GP) and Dougie Hamilton (397 GP) are approaching the 400-club while Travis Hamonic needs four more to hit 500 … C Sean Monahan leads the NHL with 10 game-winning goals. He is three away from shattering the single-season franchise record set by Joe Mullen (12 in 1986-87). He also sat second in the NHL with 16 goals on the road (heading into Monday’s action).

5. ABOUT THE B’S

G Tuukka Rask is 18-1-2 in his last 21 games … Backup Anton Khudobin stopped 35 of 38 shots in a 5-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday … According to NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty, the Bruins are interested in adding a power forward to their mix and have a “keen interest” in Edmonton Oilers forward Patrick Maroon … D Zdeno Chara was tied with Golden Knights forward Reilly Smith for second in plus/minus with a plus-26 … Boston’s 34-12-8 record was the third-best in the NHL before Monday.

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